Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Healthy Lifestyles project activities: • Cognitive Behavior Therapy Training in Khanty-Mansiysk, Alaska • On going training including site visits and videoconference  

Outline
As part of the Northern Forum’s on-going work under Healthy Lifestyles project, a series of workshops and training activities have taken place. First was an international seminar “Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention in the North” that was held on September 24-28, 2007 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. The seminar was organized by the Northern Forum and Khanty-Manisiysk Regional Hospital. The seminar was facilitated by Dr. Bernard Segal, PhD, Senior Advisor on NF’s Healthy Lifestyles project, from Anchorage, Alaska, and Ms. Sally Heath, Senior Consultant at the Northwestern Medical Center, in Shelton, Washington. About 78 specialists from member regions of the Northern Forum (Sakha, Komi, Saint Petersburg, Vologda) and from other specialized institutions in Khanty-Mansiysk AO attended the seminar and discussed the following issues: ? Familiarized with treatment practices using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy; ? Gained skills in motivational interviewing; ? Learned about developing individual treatment plans and assessing therapy effectiveness; ? Familiarized with outreach methods; ? Examined methods and techniques for working with families and friends. Resulting from the seminar were concrete recommendations for future activities and international cooperation on treatment and prevention of substance abuse in the North. Dr. Segal was also invited to Yakutsk following his trip to Khanty-Mansiysk. The purpose of his visit was twofold: (a) to participate in the Health Congress conducted by the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and the Ministry of Health, Republic of Sakha, and (b) to expressly help develop suicide prevention programs to reduce the prevalence of suicide among youth, particularly in rural and remote communities. a. The Health Congress At the invitation of the Congress' planning committee, Dr. Segal made two presentations at the congress. The first talk, "Promoting Family Health," was given in a working group session, attended by 70-80 people, that addressed health care issues. His second address, "Advancing Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment: Developing an Integrated System of Care within a Public Health Framework," was held at the opening plenary session of the Congress, attended by over 100 people. b. Suicide Prevention A strategic workshop/seminar was planned to be held in Suntar, a rural community hub west of Yakutsk, to be attended by health providers and health-related workers in surrounding communities. Inclement weather, however, precluded flying into the community, necessitating postponing the program until next spring. In lieu of conducting the program on suicide prevention in the rural community, a forum was held at the Yakutsk Scientific Center, attended by over 50 physicians and medical students and other health care and health-related professionals. A delegation consisting of three doctors from Khanty-Mansiysk’s Clinical Neuro-psychological Hospital visited Anchorage and Seattle on May 24 - June 4, 2008. The group visited three substance abuse treatment programs – "Clithroe Alcoholism Treatment Program" in Anchorage, “Therapeutic Health Services” and “Lakeside Milan” programs in Seattle. The doctors were provided with in-depth information about each program, including patient in-take procedures, patient interviewing techniques, diagnostics, treatment, and detox approaches, as well as funding, and other information pertinent to each program. At present, plans for an international videoconference are underway with participation of substance abuse treatment experts in Alaska, Khanty-Mansiysk, Sakha Republic, Vologda, and other member regions of the Northern Forum. The videoconference will take place on November 24-25, 2008 and focus on short-term outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation strategies and stages.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Human development of the Arctic and subarctic regions, such as Alaska, Russia, Canada and other northern nations, has resulted in significant changes in the health and well being of its indigenous peoples and the “newcomers” to the north. Among the health problems that have emerged are suicide, an increase in the incidence of diseases such as diabetes and cancer, and substance abuse. The activities under this project will provide information exchange and training opportunities to make advances in caring and treatment of Arctic residents with mental health issues.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The Northern Forum cooperates with regional governments to facilitate training opportunities and workshops. In addition, members of the working group consisting of specialists in the field of alcohol and drug abuse treatment from Northern Forum member regions are involved throughout the planning process. Current members are: Vologda: Dr.Victor Bridnya, Head physician, Vologda Regional Narcological Hospital, Chair of the Working Group Sakha: Dr. Nurguyana Matveeva, Laboratory Head, Russian Academy of Medical Science, Yakutsk Science Center Kh-Mansiysk: Dr. Andrey Novikov, Head of dispensary department, Regional clinical psycho-neurological hospital of Khanty-Mansiysk Komi: To be confirmed Chukotka: Dr. Natalia Noskova, Physician, rehabilitation, Medical prophylactics department of Chukotka regional hospital

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Workshops and site visits have taken place in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, Sakha Republic, Alaska and Washington State. The proposed videoconference will be an efficient and affordable way to conduct training with participation of experts in Russia and Alaska.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Khanty-Mansiysk Regional Psycho-Neurological Hospital will sponsor the upcoming videoconference. The venue for Alaskan participants has been identified. The organizing team extended invitations to other regions in Russia to participate in the videoconference.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Both the workshop and the videoconference serve as groundwork for collaboration between northern regions of Russia and their counterparts in Alaska. There will be no infrastructure – physical assets – resulting from this project.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Other sources of support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes - The Northern Forum Board of Governors has approved theses events as Priority Projects of the Northern Forum. The project has been approved as a component of the Arctic Council, Sustainable Development Working Group program.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
No

The workshops and the videoconference have been proposed as part of the Northern Forum’s ongoing program on Healthy Lifestyles in the North. The NF held several workshops during which participants identified the need for training, which was also confirmed by the NF working group on alcohol and drug abuse treatment. In addition, the project is a component of the Arctic Council SDWG work plan and a component of the IPY approved AHHI – Arctic Human Health Initiative.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Northern Forum training workshops and site-visits are intended to be interactive. Participants are encouraged to actively participate in all discussions. NF workshops are “open meetings” and participants are free to use information received. The NF promotes the collaboration, and development of partnerships for research and progress.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Results from the training workshops are generally distributed to all participants, included in the NF quarterly Activity Report, and posted on NF web site. Reports are provided to the Arctic Council SDWG and Ministerial.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Significant data will NOT be accumulated by this project. Records of all meetings and training will be retained at the Northern Forum Secretariat.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The site-visits are funded by the participants; the proposed videoconference will be funded by Khanty-Mansiysk Regional Psycho-Neurological Hospital. Each region connecting to the videoconference will be responsible for costs associated with equipment use and rental in their regions.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Executive Director Priscilla Wohl
The Northern Forum
716 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 100
Anchorage, Alaska
99501
USA

Tel: (907) 561-3280
Mobile: no
Fax: (907) 561-6645
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation